Butter cutter



M. A. BERG BUTTER CUTTER Nov. 22, 1949 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 1946 IN VEN TOR.

' MARVIN A. 552 BY flZexa/wm 11%! HIS ATTORNEY Nov 22, 1949 M- A. BERG BUTTER CUTTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1946 M G T m N B E V A m N W R A M a w m 5 u u HrTh W 3 E m a 2 a g n BY diam H/5 A TTORNEY M. A. BERG BUTTER CUTTER Nov. 22, 1949 Filed April 9, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m 8 8 M/Z 2 r G 00. 9 a 4 a 4 w 5 W a) fit 3 .9 7 G IN VEN TOR.

MARVIN A 55/20 BY flZmmflun/W H/S ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 22, 1949 tJN ITED? PATENT OFFlzQE;

BUTTER CUTTER Manning-B rg, Oakland, Calif; Application Aprili 9,, 1946,Serial No. 660,788

siderable capacity-and in which butter is pre-' served ina chilled condition for a-considerable time. Another" object of this invention 'is'" to: provide a butter cutter, which has a-readi1y;re movable butter cutting-unit; so that'the latter may-be easily cleaned; disinfected, ifnecessary;

and returned-in'its place.

Another objector-this inventionis to provide a butter-cutter in-whic'h 'th'e butter cutting blade;

' is electrically heated-and works in cooperation 2 container; and a butter cutting. mechanismwfic under said container.

The container 1 is cylindrical in shape-and-prefa-il.

erably made of sheet metal havingoouble walls; 7

5 and Band 'a'layer of in'sulating material.T-thereee between. The top of the: container llfisvclosed preferably by a transparent cover 8. Theilattere has a stub-shaft l0 passing through'th'e centenr thereof and extending downwardly a'certainrdis'e tance. The top of-said'ishaft,protrudingabovefi saidcover 8, is rigidlyconnected toa' handle 11,: which extends parallel to" said' cover 'toiand bee yond-the outer edge thereof-r The. handle Hi swingably carries on the 1 freeend thereof-"a stop with a-pat ejecti-ng-'mechanism' whichejects 'said l-;l2 which in cooperation with two em'bossments pat off the blade withevery-cutting:

Other objects andadvantages will'appear as the specification proceeds andth'e novel 'fe'atures of" the device will be parti'cularlygpointed out inthes claim hereto annexed:

In this specification and. the annexed'drawing, the invention isillustrated-in the. form considered to be the best, but it is understood," that theing vention is notlir'nited to such form; and it is' alsio,

I3 and l 4 arranged-on the outer wall 5; fixes two i. positions of said handle by: admitting either-oi? said -embossments into asmallindentationJ 5 pro-: 1 vided thereonu The container l re'sts onan arcu go -ated support 4-whichis embedded-ma base:'9::

Theupper portion Qfthe container l-is-oceu pied by the=butter dispensing"unit 2-.- The-latter; comprises a plurality ofrectangularchutes l1 arranged closeto the innerwall' 6 -of-the con-- to be understood that-in andyfbyzthe claimsffok tander. Eachchute l'l is adapted-to contain a lowing the description; it isdesired totcoverhthe. invention in whatsoever -form.it.;may be embodiedl l. My invention isillustrated in. the .accompan54,- ingrdrawing in which Fig. 1 is a front view of the butter cutter. Fig. 2 is a vertical-cross-section, along -the line 2-.-2 of the Fig .1.

Fig. 3 isaplan view of the device;

plurality of'cubes, I orblocks; of butter which are placed thereinto throughl an'open top Each? chute IThaS four verticalwalls, with=-exceptionof-the-chute--l8 Which has onlythree walls, the

efourth wall, facing the container, being-:omitted for the purpose to be explainedhereafter;

The butter dispensing-unit 2 rests on adisk which is supported substantiallyinthe middle of the container l bylugs 2i -carried=by-the inner 445 a horizontal crpssSe-Qtiontakem al/qngv" gsswall. 6.- Meansis provided toprevent rotation of? tl1e-line-.44 of theFigil.

Fig. 5 is a planview cf the buttencutting mach;- anism.

Fig", 6. isa partial vertical cross-.sec iqn ofi h i said 'disk, said means may-include holes- 22 'in said lugs 2 I and...pins 23 carried 'bytheundera' sideof said disk, which pins-pass through' said holes :22; thus preventing thegrotarydisplacements:

container showing means sfor;ali nment-Mother f id disk;

weight and one of the chutes.

Fig. 7 is, a side view of the butter cutting z mechanism.

Fig.7 8 is, a-vertical crossrsectionr taken; along; the line 88 -oftherFig.,-5;

Fig. 9 is a front view of the butter cutting mech a. anism.

Fig; 10 r is :a partial cross=sectiom ofazsaid jmec.he.- anism showing; the position :ofnvarious spartssafiterr a pat ofybutter was cut-off:

Fig. 11 is a perspectivelviewrofq thelzpat 'ejectingr; mechanism; and;

Fig. 12 is .,a perspective.Viewofi thezblaclel In. detail, mybuttertcutterl consists: of 6a con:-

iiSaid openingl into said outlet chute ZBIand down-.-

intothecuttingmechanism 3; The lowersportionw of= the= container: I where the outlet chute 26-" is i located is. packed: with ice for the purpose of chillingloutter. l

In order to keep butter cubes under certain pressure whilewtheyaane cut; a weight 29 is provided which weight- "is normally. suspendedion aa cable 30 which is-passed over-a rod 3l, thro'ugh at; hole '32; outside 'said-v container: The free endfbf tainer. I; a butter rdispensing unitI2'iinside ofisaid tgiiisaidi cable may carry-a hook-34:which may be-en gaged by a loop at the bottom of said container for the purpose of holding said weight 29 above said chutes. The weight 29 when lifted above the chutes enters a rectangular enclosure 38 which keeps the same in constant alignment with said chutes. The cable 30 is of such length that when the hook 34 abuts the hole 32, the bottom of the weight 29 is level with the bottom of the outlet chute 26.

Meansis provided to align said chutes with the enclosure 32 and the outlet chute 26, which means comprise a fork 48 swingably carried by the inner wall 6 near the bottom of said enclosure and within the latter. When the weight 29 is raised it swings the fork 49 upwardly as shown in Fig. 6. When the weight 29 is dropped into one of the chutes I! the fork 48 drops down in a position shown in Fig. 2 wherein it enters the top of said chute and prevents the butter dispensing unit 2 from rotating. Whenever it is desirable to take the unit 2 out of the container, the chute I8 is aligned with the weight enclosure 38. The absence of this front wall in said chute I8 permits removal of the unit 2 from said container by lifting the first from the latter.

The unit 2 is adapted to be rotated about a stub-shaft l0 passing through a channel 4| connecting two opposite chutes I! at the top, and about a stub-shaft 42 carried by the bottom 43 of said unit and passing through said disk 26. The rotation of said unit 2 about said stub-shafts I8 and 42 is accomplished by the handle H in the following manner. The stop I2 is disengaged from the embossment l3, and the handle H is moved in a clockwise direction until the stop i2 is lined up with the embossment 14. The stubshaft l8 rotates with the handle i. It carries a leaf spring 45 aflixed thereto, which spring extends over the inner walls 46 of the chutes H. The walls 46 have one of their sides raised so as to form a tooth 41, The latter is engaged by the spring 45 on its clockwise movement and the unit 2 is rotated in the same direction. The chute I1 is placed in alignment with the weight 29 and the outlet chute 26 when the stop i2 is aligned with the embossment l4. On its backward movement the spring 45 slides over the tooth 41 of the next chute l1 and engages the same when the stop I2 is brought into the alignment with the embossment I3.

The butter cutting mechanism 3 is a separate unit which may be easily disengaged from the container l for the purpose of cleaning, disinfection or repairs. It is removably attached to the bottom of the container I and includes a frame 59 made of sheet metal. The latter frame is rectangular and channel-shaped having a top 5| and the side walls 52 and 53. The top 5| has a rectangular opening 54 therein which is aligned with the outlet chute 26. The opening 54 is formed with a front rim 48 and a rear rim 49. The side walls 52 and 53 have their lower portions bent inwardly, so as to form a pair of supports 55 for the roller bearings 56 confined within said frame. There are two pairs of said bearings, each pair having a common shaft 5?. The.

latter shafts carry a slicer 68 which consists of two side walls 6| extending downwardly beyond the frame 58 and being connected by a top plate 62.

The slicer 60 carries a cutter blade in the front part thereof fixedly attached thereto. The blade 65 is slightly spaced from the top 5| of the frame and has its cutting edge 66 bevelled so as to force the sliced pat of butter downwardly.

The blade 65 carries an electric heating coil 61 extending the width thereof by means of which the slicer is kept warmed up to expedite the cutting of pats and to produce a clean cut. The butter block drops through the opening 54 in the top of the frame 50, and rests on the plate 62.

The blade 65 is placed a certain distance above said plate and this distance determines the thickness of the butter pats to be sliced.

The slicer side walls 6| are connected by a partition 16 to the lower end of which a platform H is attached for manual operation of said slicer.

The platform 1| extends forwardly so that the front end thereof is substantially in line with the front end of the frame 58 and terminates with a push handle 12.

The frame 59 has an end plate 15 extending downwardly from the rear end thereof. A spring 16 is arranged between the partition 18 and the plate 15 which spring pushes the slicer 66 forwardly, but forward movement of said slicer is limited to the position shown in Figures 7 and 8 by a bolt 11 which passes through a lug 18 integral with the top plate 62 and is firmly secured to the end plate 15 by nuts 19. This arrangement permits the slicer 68 to be manually pushed inwardly and be returned to its initial portion by the spring [6.

When a butter pat is sliced off by pushing the slicer 60 as above-described, it has tendency to stick to the end of the blade 65, In order to facilitate the separation of said pats from the blade 65, an ejection mechanism 88 is provided. The latter mechanism is carried by the frame 58 and is arranged under the rim 49 of the opening 54. The mechanism consists of an ejector plate 8| extending substantially all the width of the opening 54 at the right angle to the top plate 62, said ejector plate being fixedly attached to a shaft 82 carried by said frame 50. One end '83 of said shaft is extended beyond said frame and is bent downwardly as shown in Fig. '7. A spring 85 is attached to said end 83 which spring normally tends to rotate the shaft 82 in counterclockwise direction. The plate 8| has two for- 'wardly bent portions 86 which freely rest on the top plate 62. A spring catch 88 is attached to the top 5| of the frame 50 and has a bent portion 69 which engages a reduced portion 98 of the plate 8| and thus prevents said shaft 82 from rotating.

The top 62 has two downwardly bent prongs 9| on each side thereof which are aligned with the portions 86. The blade 65 is provided with a downwardly bent prong 93 which is designed to engage the portion 89 of the catch 88 on the inward movement of the blade 65 and lift said catch so as to release the plate 8| and the shaft 82. At that moment the portions 86 are over the prongs 9|, and the tip of the blade 65 almost contacts the rim 49, The shaft 82 being freed from the catch 88 quickly rotates in counterclockwise direction looking at Figures 7 and 9, and the plate 8| kicks the butter pat, out 01f the butter block, thus freeing the blade 65 for a new cut.

The operation of the device is as follows: Ice is placed in the lower portion of the container I. Then the unit 2 with the disk 26 are placed into the container whereupon butter blocks are placed into the chutes I1 and the container is closed with the cover 8. The handle II is moved in clock-wise direction until it coincides with the embossment l4, whereupon the butter :blocks drop through the outlet chute 26 onto the slicer top plate 92. The weight 29 is dropped down on the butter blocks.

The slicer B8 is pushed inwardly by the handle II. This motion slices a pat 95 from the bottom of a butter block 96 and said pat is kicked downwardly by the ejection plate BI. The butter cube rests temporarily on the blade 85. It shall be noted that when the blade 55 cuts the butter cube, the same is pressed against the rim 49 and the ejector plate 8i. When the slicer 69 is pushed outwardly by the action of the spring I5, said butter cube is stopped from moving outwardly by the rim 38. The blade 65 slides out under the butter cube and the same drops onto the top 62 which again takes the position shown in Fig. 8.

When all the butter in a certain chute is used up, the next chute I1 is brought in registry with the outlet chute 26 and the slicing of pats is resumed as above-described. The sliced pat 95 drops into a butter plate or carton 9T placed on the platform II.

The butter cutting mechanism 3 is suspended beneath the container I by retaining lugs I90 and a bolt IDI which passes through the top SI and a canopy I92 in front of said container I and integral therewith. Each of the lugs I09 consists of a vertical wall I05 with a flared out position I06 and a horizontal support I01, adapted to engage the undersides of the supports 55 of the frame 50.

Whenever it is desired to take the butter cutting mechanism 3 out, the bolt IUI is unscrewed and said mechanism is pulled out.

To insert the mechanism 9 in the place, the same is pushed under the container 3. The rear end engages the lugs I and the flared out portions I06 direct the same to take the position therebetween. When the holes in the top and the canopy I02 for the bolt IOI are aligned the latter is screwed in, thus securely fixing the position of the mechanism 3 in relation to the container I.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: In a butter cutter having means therein for storing, chilling and guiding downwardly butter blocks; a cutting mechanism for cutting pats off said butter blocks including a frame, a slicer adapted to be manually moved in said frame; said frame having an opening in the top thereof, said.- slicer having a plate upon which the butter blocks drop through said opening; a blade carried by said slicer and arranged above the plate; said blade carrying a heating element thereon; an ejector extending across said frame at the edge of said opening adapted to eject the butter pats out 01f by said blade and adhering thereto, a spring means for rotating said ejector, said ejector having portions thereof resting on the top of said plate; a spring catch carried by said frame for preventing said ejector from rotating, means for releasing said catch and permitting said ejector to rotate, and prongs at the end of said plate for returning said ejector to its normal position.

MARVIN A. BERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 737,792 Sutton Sept. 1, 1903 813,375 Glauser Feb. 20, 1906 1,658,884 Cusick Feb. 14, 1928 2,174,772 Berg Oct. 3, 1939 2,232,749 Wilson et al Feb. 25, 1941 2,282,735 Merrick May 12, 1942 

